Tickets to the Great Bend Airport Airfest go on sale Friday, July 26, at the Great Bend Alive “Fridays on Forest.” The block in front of the Great Bend Tribune, 2012 Forest Ave., will be an entertainment zone with foot traffic only from 5-9 p.m. (The street will be closed at 1 p.m.)

Great Bend Airport Manager Martin Miller told the Great Bend City Council recently that a “dream team” of flyers will appear at the Airfest, which runs Sept. 20-22.

“We’re two months out but there’s a lot to get done,” Miller said, mentioning everything from parking to publicity. The bleachers to be set up at the airport, as well as 1,000 chairs, will allow an interactive airshow with historical displays, aircraft rides and tours, and flight demonstrations at daily airshows. Saturday, Sept. 21, will feature a twilight airshow and a night airshow as well as two afternoon shows. 

“We are still looking for donors,” Miller said, thanking the City of Great Bend and Barton County for contributions. “It costs $370,000+ to make this thing happen.”

Tickets can be purchased at Fridays on Forest, where there will also be paper airplane games and a raffle. Tickets can also be purchased at the door and will soon be available online at greatbendairfest.com. 

General admission tickets are $20 until Aug. 20. The early bird price for veterans and senior citizens is $15 and children 6-12 years old will be admitted for $5 with a paid adult (children 5 and under get in free). There is also a handling fee for online ticket sales.

About Airfest

The Great Bend Airport Airfest is a tri-annual event that brings nationally acclaimed aviation talent to provide world-class family entertainment. The 2024 lineup includes Skip Stewart, Franklin’s Flying Circus, Randy Ball, Matt Younkin, Bob Freeman Airshows, Vertigo Sailplane Airshows, Ghostwriter Airshows, Mini-Jet Airshows, Chuters Parachute Team, Hot Streak Jet Truck, and many other attractions.